Crazy Wisdom Episode #409: Civilization 3.0: How Intentional Communities and Crypto Could Transform the World
In this episode, Stewart Alsop talks with San Naidoo, who is developing foundational infrastructure for what he calls Civilization 3.0. San shares his journey from tech entrepreneurship to his life in a rural South African village, covering topics like sacred dance, intentional communities, and composting capitalism. Their conversation explores the decentralization of economic and social systems, the influence of empire culture, and the importance of fostering relational fields as we look toward a regenerative future. To learn more about San's work and updates, you can follow him on Twitter at @regencrypto.
Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation!
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to the Crazy Wisdom Podcast
00:40 Starting a Tech Shop in Argentina
02:32 Exploring Sacred Dance and Tango
09:04 Building Infrastructure for Civilization 3.0
10:49 Intentional Communities and Crypto Adventures
18:25 Revolutionizing Money and Community Models
31:41 Networking and Intentional Communities
32:40 Creating a Node and Land Trust
33:35 Historical Perspectives on Land and Labor
35:34 AI, Productivity, and Modern Slavery
38:37 CommuniTrees: Business Models and Regenerative Practices
41:30 Crypto, Real World Assets, and Cultural Lag
51:23 The Role of Cities in Future Communities
55:58 Reflections on Argentina's Agriculture and Economy
58:59 The Importance of Relational Fields
01:01:16 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Key Insights
- The Vision of Civilization 3.0: San Naidoo explores the concept of Civilization 3.0, an evolution toward a regenerative, interdependent society. This future civilization is one that could integrate the community-oriented values of tribal systems with the structural strengths of empire, re-envisioning how communities relate to land, economy, and each other. San’s idea is to foster sustainable, resilient societies through intentional communities that are economically and ecologically regenerative.
- Intentional Communities and the Challenges of Cohesion: Reflecting on his own experience with intentional communities in Argentina and South Africa, San notes that successful communities require strong foundations in shared values and clear communication. The biggest obstacle is often navigating human dynamics and creating frameworks that support clear conflict resolution, goal alignment, and harmonious co-existence. His experiences highlight the importance of vision, shared meaning, and structured processes for sustainable community building.
- Composting Capitalism as a Path to Regenerative Wealth: In his work, San advocates for "composting capitalism," a playful yet powerful concept of redirecting resources from the current economic system to nurture regenerative systems. His idea focuses on investing in land and initiatives that prioritize ecological and social health, thereby creating wealth that fosters life and interdependence rather than extraction and profit for profit’s sake.
- Tokenization of Land Through Fractionalized Real Estate: One innovative approach San proposes is using crypto and blockchain technology to fractionalize real estate, allowing individuals to invest in regenerative land projects. Through tokens representing square meters of land stewarded by intentional communities, investors could support regenerative land trusts while sharing in the long-term value of community-centered land development. This concept brings finance closer to tangible ecological projects, offering a sustainable model that rewards both investors and the planet.
- The Power of Relational Fields in Sustainable Culture: A central theme in San’s vision is the “relational field”—the depth and quality of relationships among individuals and communities. He believes that fostering strong, meaningful connections is key to a regenerative society, where people interact as interconnected individuals rather than isolated consumers. This concept highlights the need to create environments where mutual care and support are embedded in daily interactions, contrasting with the transactional nature of mainstream culture.
- The Edge Walkers’ Role in Cultural Transformation: San speaks about "edge walkers"—individuals and projects at the fringes of the mainstream who are experimenting with new cultural, economic, and ecological paradigms. While often overshadowed by louder, profit-driven entities within crypto and tech, edge walkers embody the regenerative culture that could eventually replace unsustainable systems. Networking these innovators could strengthen and accelerate systemic change.
- A Decentralized, Harmonized Future Beyond Empire: Looking at history, San contrasts the hierarchical, extractive systems of empire with the collaborative, interdependent nature of tribal cultures. As society shifts away from centralized power structures, he suggests a planetary culture that integrates the strengths of both. This future civilization would honor the planet’s interconnectedness, leveraging decentralized networks to sustain a complex, self-regulating, and resilient ecosystem that could avoid collapse and facilitate lasting well-being.